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Continuous Improvement Practitioner

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Continuous Improvement Practitioner Programme (LCS Level 1c)

The Continuous Improvement Practitioner Programme develops the skills required to lead and deliver structured improvement activity within a business.​ It is built around practical application, with each participant completing a live improvement project.​

Develop Internal Capability to Drive Strategic Change

The Continuous Improvement Practitioner Programme equips professionals with the tools, techniques, and leadership behaviours needed to implement structured business improvements. Certified by the Lean Competency System (LCS), a globally recognised accreditation developed by Cardiff University. This programme helps organisations build internal expertise to drive efficiency, reduce waste, and sustain a culture of continuous improvement.

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Certification & Programme Details

Accreditation​

LCS Level 1a, Level 1b and Level 1c

Duration

​6 days

Senior Sponsor Involvement

Supports project identification and advocacy

Price and Funding

Full Price £1,750 +VAT. Up to 60% scholarship funding available.

Certification Criteria

Completion of training & application of Lean tools in a real-world project

Who the Programme Is For

  • Supervisors, team leaders and managers

  • CI specialists, engineers and improvement leads

  • Professionals supporting operational excellence or transformation

  • Talent pipelines for future CI / Lean leadership roles

  • Organisations wanting to build internal capability and reduce reliance on external consultants

Delivery Dates

Autumn Cohort:

  • 10th, 11th, 24th and 25th November 2026

  • 15th and 16th December 2026

Autumn Cohort:

  • 26th and 27th January 2027

  • 9th and 10th February 2027

  • 23rd and 24th February 2027

What You Will Learn

1. Lean Foundations & CI Principles

  • Evolution of Lean, Toyota Production System and modern CI

  • Purpose, value, flow and waste

  • The 5 Lean principles and how they guide improvement

  • How systems, processes and behaviours influence performance

2. Understanding & Improving Processes

  • Gemba skills: how to observe, question and understand the real process

  • SIPOC, process mapping, swimlanes and spaghetti diagrams

  • Value Stream Mapping: current state, future state, analysis and planning

  • Identifying waste, barriers and bottlenecks across the value stream

3. Structured Problem Solving

  • PDCA as a core improvement method

  • DIKW (Data–Information–Knowledge–Wisdom) for evidence-based thinking

  • 7 Quality Tools, Pareto analysis, histograms, control charts

  • Root cause analysis using 5 Whys, fishbone and A3 thinking

  • Containment, corrective action and verification

4. Practical Application & A3 Delivery

  • Designing problem statements, scopes and measures

  • Analysing causes with data, observation and mapping

  • Developing and testing countermeasures

  • Standardising improvements to sustain results

  • A3 reporting for clear, visual communication​

5. The Lean Workplace

  • Lean layout and flow principles

  • 5S workplace organisation and audit systems

  • SMED for reducing changeover and increasing capacity

  • Theory of Constraints, bottlenecks and production levelling (Heijunka)

  • TPM fundamentals and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

6. Lean Leadership & Culture

  • Shingo Model principles and behaviours

  • Systems thinking and organisational alignment

  • Leader Standard Work and visual management

  • Tiered meetings, leading indicators and daily performance routines

  • Managing change and creating the conditions for continuous improvement

How to apply

Applications are designed to be straightforward and focused on impact.

Applicants will be asked to provide:

  • An overview of the organisation and current challenges or priorities.​​

  • Information on the individual applying and their current role.​

  • A short statement outlining how the programme will support their development and contribute to business performance.​

  • Confirmation of internal mentor support.​

Supporting information may be included where relevant.

Key principle

This is not a training subsidy. It is an investment in people who can deliver measurable performance improvement within manufacturing organisations.

Delivery

All programmes are delivered by the Manufacturers Network at Trafford Park. The Manufacturers Network works with manufacturing organisations globally to develop capability in operational excellence, leadership and continuous improvement, with a focus on practical application and measurable results.

Supporting people. Strengthening capability. Improving performance in UK manufacturing.

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